Union centrals and social movements carried out, this Thursday (8), an act in defense of democracy in Cinelândia, central region of Rio de Janeiro. The mobilization marked three years since the attacks of January 8, 2023, a critical point in the attempted coup d’état judged by the Federal Supreme Court (STF). That day, supporters of the then former president Jair Bolsonaro invaded and vandalized the National Congress, the Palácio do Planalto and the STF, in Brasília.
For the president of the Central Única dos Trabalhadores do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (CUT-RJ), Sandro César, the date symbolizes the need for permanent vigilance.
“This act marks another year of the unspeakable movement that was carried out by the coup plotters in Brazil in order to debase Brazilian democracy, to overthrow the Democratic Rule of Law. It is something that we thought was distant, but it has happened again in Brazil”, said Sandro.
He also highlighted the role of convictions as a historical example.
“Former president arrested, coup generals arrested and those involved in the coup arrested. This is what should happen when the Constitution of the Republic of the country is violated in the sense of degrading it, of violating the constitutional pact, the republican and democratic pact of Brazil. It is an important lesson so that future generations can never again imagine or try to do something like that”, added the union leader.
The president of the Rio de Janeiro Bank Workers Union (Seeb/Rio), José Ferreira, criticized any initiative to pardon those involved.
“We cannot accept amnesty for the coup plotters, nor this strategy that they pretend to say is not amnesty, dosimetry, which is nothing more than a generic amnesty. Lula vetoed the project, but it will return to Congress and we need to be on the streets to pressure parliament against this benefit for those who want to steal democracy”, said Ferreira.
João Pedro, a member of the Juntos youth movement (anti-fascist, anti-capitalist and eco-socialist) and the Socialism and Freedom Party (PSOL-RJ), highlighted the importance of continuous mobilization.
“On this important date, we remember the need to always be mobilized. We need to be aware of the constant attacks from the extreme right that we have experienced”, said the activist.
“It is essential to start the year with mobilization. It is necessary to resist, but also present an alternative to the crisis. Show that it is possible to build another society, that it is possible to overcome the horizons that are set for us today”, he added.
Protesters during an act for democracy, in memory of the anti-democrats of January 8, 2023, in Cinelândia, city center. Photo: Tânia Rêgo/Agência Brasil
January 8
Three years ago, thousands of protesters marched along the Esplanada dos Ministérios, broke police blockades and attacked the headquarters of the Three Powers, demanding the overthrow of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, democratically elected and inaugurated just a week ago.
Three years later, the STF convicted 1,399 people involved in the coup acts. The data was updated this Monday (8) by the office of minister Alexandre de Moraes, rapporteur of the processes. According to the report, 179 people are in prison, 114 of which are in a closed regime after the convictions became final. Another 50 are under house arrest and there are still 15 preventive detentions.
The convictions include former president Jair Bolsonaro and 28 former members of his governmentblamed for planning a coup attempt to prevent Lula from taking office. Among those arrested are also five former members of the Military Police of the Federal District, convicted of failure to allow protesters access to Praça dos Três Poderes.
Protesters during an act for democracy, in memory of the anti-democrats of January 8, 2023, in Cinelândia, city center. Photo: Tânia Rêgo/Agência Brasil
